Agora

Agora is a film about a female philosopher who has to prove that the earth is not the center of the universe.

The film sought to create the historical Hypatia, an atheist professor who was held in high esteem by the polis and the students of ancient Alexandria world but was brutally killed by a Christian mob. The backdrop of old empire is amazing and every effort to recreate history was commendable.

The filmmakers were careful not to make more violent Hypatia's murder. But the message itself was compelling enough. Whether Christian or not, any violent act should not be justified, even in the name of religion, except for self-defense. Just a word of warning: the film may also have depicted Christianity in an overly negative way, with the words of Christ totally running counter to what the Christians were actually doing during those times.

Rating: 3/5

Tooth fairy

Tooth fairy is a story of an athlete who has to learn what it means to understand a child's world.

Targeted to children, this film is entertaining enough although Dwayne Johnson needs a lot to improve his acting. Its plot is unexpectedly thin to the point of losing the child in every adult. This film seems to contend itself with the minimum instead of giving its all in terms of quality, special effects, and a message to make it truly inspiring for children and adults alike.

The Tooth fairy is an invitation to recover the lost world of a child. But it is more so about relationships and the growth of the self brought about by the affirmation of others.

Rating: 3/5

The blind side

The Blind side is a story of a woman with her family who cares for a homeless young man.

"Based on an extraordinarily true story," the secret of this commendable film lies in the consistency of Sandra Bullocks role of being a strong-willed woman with a heart. The plot development is also amazing. Overall, this film touches the hearts of the audience with its moving story.

The blind side capitalizes on the value of generosity as a way of changing people's lives. It goes beyond established status quo which sometimes become a venue for social and structural sins to proliferate. It shows that it is possible to change the world with the power of human compassion.

Rating: 5/5

Percy Jackson and the lightning thief

Percy Jackson and the lightning thief is a film about a demigod who has to save his abducted mother as well as prove that he is not the lightning thief.

The story is very comprehensible to children. In fact it may so simple it works; thus, it goes beyond just displaying special effects and animation. Of course, situating a much revered Greek mythology in Las Vegas or Hollywood may be hard to bear.

The story ultimately explores the vast world of parentless children and how they are coping up to survive in this complex human existence. Parents, take the hint - despite all good intentions, do children really deserve to grow up this way?

Rating: 3.5/5

Where the wild things are

"Where the wild things are" is a story of a boy who runs away from home only to find himself in the midst of monsters.

An adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's story, one could detect some faithfulness to the written text. It is a fantasy story that explores the ID, where it is bound to go, and some realizations that results from the world of immaturity. It is an intelligent film with a cast of lovable and yes, cuddly, big, horrifying monsters.

All of us experienced the joys and pains of childhood and the uneasy compromise between direct parental supervision and the carefree unadulterated world of the young life. But sooner or later, we just have to give in to something higher than what we simply want and to let ourselves be guided by it. That youthful energy will soon be put into good use and our lives will gain true meaning.

Rating: 3.5/5

Legion

Legion is a film about an angel who has fallen to save what God wants to destroy.

This film should be known for its special effects. But be wary more of the script and the message it wants to convey. Like Angels and Demons, the scriptwriter has a way of putting on the silver screen what he believes in. The entire story could be seamless but eventually, it is totally misleading.

The film presupposes a lot of doctrinal errors among them, God has lost "faith" in mankind and has to destroy him; the angels who are supposed to serve God "possess" people and turn into monsters; the angels have their own free will; and that God could be wrong in His decisions. The last part is the most disturbing of all - it puts man at the center of things.

Be forewarned about the message of this film.

Rating: 1/5